The Runaway Bride - Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship, still bearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately attracts suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by making a poor choice. Vying for her hand two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy, held in high esteem. Peter Kelly is the town’s baker who has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummond not only compete for Arabella’s affections, but also clash over views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak. As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need—a starving girl left behind by her tribe. Intent on helping the child, Arabella leans on Peter’s advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision, or will seeking what’s right cost both her and Peter everything?
What's in the Cross Reference Library? The Heroes God Wants Us to Be
Hero - Being a single man in today’s culture is downright dangerous. It’s easy to be overwhelmed, feel helpless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave to in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be. But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them. What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Hero is their creed. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insights and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.
The Roar Within - Every boy has dreams of the man he will become—exploring the world, fighting the enemy, and being dangerous for good. He imagines himself as the hero, the expert, the one others look up to. Then somewhere along the way, the lies of the enemy knock him down, his dreams are shattered, and he loses his purpose as the enemy attempts to rob him of his true identity. In this hard-hitting book, world-class hunter, adventurer, and popular speaker Brent Henderson takes men on a journey to some of the most dangerous and deadly places on earth. Along the way, he helps each man discover that the most powerful force in the universe can be found in his spirit, where God resides. He shows men how to revolver what’s been lost by answering their biggest questions: Who am I really? Where does my value come from? Am I enough?
What's New at the Cross Reference Library?
Fruit Full - What do your kids know about the fruit of the Spirit? Maybe they can rattle off the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But do they really understand what the fruits look like in daily life? Christie Thomas is here to help you connect your children to the power of the Holy Spirit—and help your entire family learn a lot along the way! Each of these 100 devotionals will inspire your family with thought-provoking questions, real-life applications, and more. She also includes hands-on activities you can try when there’s time. Fruit Full offers real understanding of how the Spirit will help your kids grow in their own beautiful, Jesus-reflecting character. With this book as your guide, the whole family will learn to grow abundant “fruit” together.
How We Love Matters - Racism is alive and well in the church. Racism has, in fact, been taught within the church for so long most of us don’t even recognize it anymore. Pastor Albert Tate, a dynamic speaker and rising leader within the church world, guides readers in acknowledging this fact, encouraging siblings in Christ to sit together in racial discomfort to examine the role they may play in someone else’s struggle. How We Love Matters is a series of nine moving letters, reminiscent of Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, about different aspects of American and Christian culture. In letters that include Dear Whiteness, Dear America, and Dear Church, Tate calls out racism in the world, the church, and within himself and his reader. The book educates and enlightens in a way that flips the church on its head. It looks to the life of our Savior Jesus Christ as a clear and inspiring model for how we need to treat and love one another as siblings and neighbors, regardless of differences like skin color, culture, language, or beliefs. Tate believes that the only way to make change is by telling the truth about where we are—relationally, internally, and spiritually. How We Love Matters is an exposition of relevant biblical truth, a clarion call for all believers to examine how they see and understand each other, and it is a way forward toward justice, reconciliation, and healing.
What's New in the Cross Reference Library? The Tuttle Twins!
How do you describe economics to a 7-year-old? Should your preteen care about the government? Are your kids learning about the free market in class?
For too long, parents have been at the mercy of professional curriculum developers to instruct their children. History is watered down, key principles omitted altogether, and time and attention given to things of lesser importance. Freedom-loving parents have long been left alone to shoulder the burden of educating their children and passing down a love of liberty. While there are many books to teach these ideas to adults, there has been a profound void in the children’s literature market. The Tuttle Twins series closes the gap, helping parents convey the principles of freedom to their kids in a fun way. Each book in this series focuses on a different aspect of the principles of a free society: free markets, competition, individual rights, the non-aggression principle, personal responsibility, protectionism, and a variety of other issues—all boiled down to core concepts that children of different ages can easily grasp.
What's New in the Cross Reference Library? Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven
Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven - What happens when we die? Where do we go? Is there an afterlife? Does the Bible say anything specific about heaven? Are there really streets of gold there? Pearly gates? Has anyone been to heaven and returned with insider information? This book will answer those questions and tell you what’s up with heaven. God wants you to know all about your eternal home so you can anticipate the future. The heroes of Scripture thought constantly about heaven and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, seeking a homeland, desiring a better country—a heavenly one—and looking forward to the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. We should do the same. Heaven is the most encouraging subject in the Bible and the happiest location in the universe. You should know all about it. After years studying the subject of heaven, I’m overwhelmed by the comprehensive nature of the facts God shares with us in His Word. He wants us to study heaven, visualize heaven, and look forward to the place He is preparing for us. That’s why I’ve compiled these biblical truths into one comprehensive book packed with verses, references, and insights from Scripture. I hope they will encourage you to pursue your own Bible study about heaven and begin thinking often about the glorious future God has planned for you.
Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven: Study Guide - “Out of sight, out of mind,” is a proven truism—and heaven is definitely out of our human sight. The only way to keep heaven in our mind’s eye is to read and rehearse the truths about heaven found in the Word of God. But even when we do that, we find there are many things about heaven that are not easy to understand. Because heaven is not like planet earth, it seems mysterious to us. Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven will answer and clarify the most important questions Christians have about their future eternal home. Pastor David Jeremiah provides answers to questions about the nature of heaven, the kinds of bodies heaven’s occupants will have, why heaven will never be boring, why infants and small children will go to heaven, and the dwelling place God is preparing for Christians in heaven. Answers to those questions and more—eleven critical issues in all—are revealed in this Turning Point study guide. If you have had questions about heaven—especially about how to get there—let Pastor David Jeremiah be your guide. Your eternal home will become as clear on earth as it is in heaven.
The idea of heaven is interesting, beautiful, and—as Jeremiah titles his book—mysterious. Dr. David Jeremiah covers a lot of aspects of heaven that will definitely surprise you and challenge you. Here are a few scriptures that Jeremiah mentioned that I found pretty cool, the subject matter considered:
1 John 2:15-17
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Colossians 3:2
Acts 1:11
Come in to the Cross Reference Library and check out Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven by Dr. David Jerimiah and find out more of what he had to say about heaven.
What's New in the Cross Reference Library? Truth Be Told!
Truth Changes Everything - Most Americans now believe that Truth is up to the individual, rather than something we can objectively know. People talk about “speaking my truth” rather than “seeking the Truth.” Faced with unprecedented levels of social conflict, purposelessness, and hopelessness, we desperately need to know whether Truth exists and how we can find it. In this inspiring book, Dr. Jeff Myers tells the fascinating stories of Jesus followers who lived for Truth and transformed their world in times of crisis. These determined and often quirky figures led the way in human dignity, science, art, medicine, education, politics, justice, and even the idea of meaningful work. If you sense that we live in hopeless days, it’s time to discover how Truth changes everything, everywhere, all the time.
Come Sit With Me - Being human is hard. Being in a relationship with other humans is even harder. But loving one another well is possible. In Come Sit with Me, more than two dozen (in)courage writers help you navigate tough relational tensions by revealing their own hard-fought, grace-filled learning moments. They show you how to:
Delight in your differences
Honor and value others even when disagree
Connect before you correct
Trust that God is working even when people disappoint you
Whether you’re in the middle of a conflict without resolution or wondering how to enter into a friend’s pain, this book will serve as the guide you need to move through challenges and grow closer to God. And it starts by inviting God and others to simply “come sit with me.”
What's New in the Cross Reference Library?
Active Defense - When former field surgeon Heather Fontaine returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house—and threatened her friends—she assumes it is the stalker who has been creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble follows her even there. Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one observing Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead—and why—before it’s too late.
Colorful Connections - Many conversations are happening at home and in church about difficult and timely topics—but when it comes to race, too many Christians are silent. It’s time to speak up. But where do we start? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld enter a transparent and open dialogue about race, privilege, bias, and discrimination. As you witness the real-time process of meaningful discussion, you’ll see how these women model healthy conversations—giving voice to pain without blame, expressing anger without ridicule, and asking questions without guilt. These pages are filled with vulnerable personal stories, biblical teaching, conversation starters, and practical next steps. By the end, you too will be equipped to have your own colorful conversations, and find your place in healing the racial divide and bringing together the body of Christ.
We live in an era where this comment is becoming more and more common, “I bet Jesus is coming back soon, because the world is getting pretty close to falling apart.” I’ve heard it said differently by different people, wondering how much worse the politics, racism, war, etc. are gonna get before the end. Even in the Cross Reference Library, you can find plenty of books by authors who help answer your questions about the state of the world today (and for the questions they can’t answer, they try their best to direct you to a place in scripture instead). Our new books this week in particular, indeed touch on issues like racism and the lasting effects of war. In Colorful Connections we are introduced to authors, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld. Both seemed pretty surprised when they were asked to work on this together. Dr. Dalton-Smith even straight out said, “I am not an expert in diversity, inclusion, or equality training.” But a few sentences later she continued by saying, “What I am is a black woman who sits every Sunday on a church pew surrounded by people of every race. We worship together and it’s a beautiful sound.” Lori Stanley Roeleveld also said this, “While I don’t believe racism lurks within every whiite person, I believe there is sufficient statistical and anecdotal evidence to support the contention that prejudice and bias still impact people of color on multiple levels in our times. That said, I never planned to write about racism.” What I love about these introductory statements, is that these two authors are completely laying it out there. Saying stuff like, “I know I’m black/white and I have not actually “lived” in the opposite color. But I’m going to use my experience, my credentials, and my love for Jesus, others, and writing in order to have this conversation.” And as you read on, they ask you to consider 12 different questions like, “How do we respond like Jesus when we disagree,” or “How do we further the kingdom in times of conflict?” So definitely check this book out when you drop by in order to find out what those other questions are. The other new item that was donated to our library is Active Defense by Lynette Eason. It seems to have a little bit of everything: action, danger, romance, and what the lasting effects of war feel like. In chapter one, we get to see Heather in action as she is aiding the wounded over in the Middle East. You can’t help but sympathize with her after she loses a patient that she tried really hard to save from a bomb explosion. After exiting the tent after a long and exhausting day, she sees a sunset and it says, “But she didn’t want to see beauty when she was surrounded by death. Not tonight.” I can’t even imagine what it would be like to experience that pressure. Of constantly looking over your shoulder for an unknown enemy, or even having the lives of friends or strangers in your hands. But the other difficulty that the main character has, is how she feels like she has to go it alone. And, you know, that reminds me of the song, “Lord, I Need You:
Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
You don’t have to go it alone, especially when it feels like you and the entire world is falling apart. So come on down to the Cross Reference Library and check out these powerful reads.
What's in the Cross Reference Library? Uplifting Self-Help Material
Breaking Anxiety’s Grip - No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety—as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind. Sharing her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others, Dr. Michelle Bengtson reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything. She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety’s grip.
Life’s Healing Choices - Are you hurting? Is someone you love hurting? There’s no doubt, we are living in uncertain times. Some people are losing their jobs or homes. Others are suffering emotionally from their hurts. Many are losing their hope for the future. It seems everybody needs to recover from something. But the good news is that Jesus gave us a way to recover, that will work for every problem we face. And personal recovery can lead to church-wide revival and ultimately national renewal. You don’t have to hurt alone. Make healing choices by taking this important spiritual growth journey.
7 Steps to Courage - Are you feeling overwhelmed by your life—barely keeping your head above water? Does it feel as if you’re going down for the third time? Don’t despair! 7 Steps to Courage is a life preserver. And you’re just one choice away from correcting the trajectory of your life. Your journey toward freedom begins the moment you choose to stand up and face your life with courage. In 7 Steps to Courage author Ann White shares with authenticity and raw emotion the story of how she walked away from a life steeped in dysfunction to a life restored in God’s grace. With vulnerability she provides the tools you need in order to act rather than react, become empowered by making brave choices, and find joy as you celebrate freedom from your fears. 7 Steps to Courage offers seven intentional, doable steps that can ultimately alter your life, no matter what fearful situation you’re experiencing. Ann provides step-by-step direction and proven guidance on how to proceed and succeed in changing your life from frozen to freedom.
Our library is filled with all kinds of books that are filled with content that is targeted toward helping you with your walk with God. We have stuff for: men, women, teenagers, married and dating couples, and for those who are single and for families in general. But the books that I want to tell you guys about this week are our Self Help material. Now, one of the best things about the books in our Self Help section, is the fact that the authors are experts in the field they are writing about. They aren’t just sharing their opinion on courage and anxiety, but use scientific facts and definitions to back that opinion. But, more importantly, these authors use facts from the Bible and what they know about God, in order to lead their readers on their journey toward peace and courage. One of the first examples of that is in Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, when author Dr. Michelle Bengtson says, “Being at peace means we can rest, be still, and trust God to keep us safe through it all.” Along with also saying, “If you are depressed, you’re living in the past. If you are anxious, you’re living in the future. But if you are at peace, you’re living in the present.” These statements came after another interesting thought from Dr. Bengtson, “When we entertain worry, anxiety, and fear, we sacrifice our peace.” We don’t just want peace to be a word we hear in a Christmas carol, but to see it out live the anxious moments in our lives.
Along with overcoming anxiety and fear with peace, author Ann White gives her readers the 7 Steps to Courage. And those 7 steps are simply these:
Commit to Change
Overcome Obstacles
Uncover our True Self
Replace Worldly Lies with Scriptural Truth
Accept the Things We Cannot Change
Grasp God’s Love for Us
Embrace a Life of Grace
As you continue to read through this book, Ann explains what each of these means and how you can apply them to your life!
The final book that I read for this week was Life’s Healing Choices by John Baker. I liked this one a little more than the other two books, because John throws a lot of content that could become relatable for whoever is reading. Two examples that he gives are, “the apostle Paul felt a similar frustration, ‘It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong…there is something else deep within me that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin.” And John even includes stories of people who struggled but overcame those mental and physical trials. In these stories, each person thanks our Lord Jesus for the victory and has devoted their lives to helping others reach that peace, along with introducing them to God. So if you are struggling with depression and anxiety, and would like to learn more about what these authors have to say, come into the Cross Reference Library to check some of our Self Help material.
— “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
What's in the Cross Reference Library? Some Good Ol’ Fashioned Historical Romance!
Wonderland Creek - Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she’s planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real one. To top it off, Alice loses her beloved library job because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression. Longing to run from small-town gossip, Alice flees to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the tiny coal-mining town of Acorn, a place with no running water, no electricity, and where the librarians ride ornery horses up steep mountain passes to deliver books. When Alice is forced to stay in Acorn far longer than she planned, she discovers that real-life adventure, mystery—and especially romance—may be far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.
A Lady of Good Family - Raised among wealth and privilege during America’s fabled Gilded Age, a niece of famous novelist Edith Wharton and a friend to literary great Henry James, Beatrix Farrand is expected to marry, and marry well. But as a young woman traveling through Europe with her mother and aunt, she already knows that gardens are her true passion. How this highborn woman with unconventional views escapes the dictates of society to become the most celebrated female landscape designer in the country is the story of her unique determination to create beauty and serenity while remaining true to herself. Beatrix’s journey begins at the age of twenty-three in the Borghese Gardens of Rome, where she meets beguiling Amerigo Massimo, an Italian gentleman of sensitivity and charm—a man unlike any she has known before….
Beyond All Dreams - Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help. Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. From the gilded halls of the Capital to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?
What’s in the Cross Reference Library? Profound Christian Living Material!
Anxious for Nothing - It’s a low-grade fear. An edginess, a dread. It’s a wind that won’t stop howling. It’s not so much a storm as it is the certainty that one is coming. Always…coming. There is misfortune to be had out there. It’s just a matter of time. And what about the tsunami of personal challenges? You, or someone you know, is facing a job loss, fighting cancer, dealing with divorce, battling addiction, or facing financial hardship. We worry. We even feel anxious about feeling anxious. Take heart, my friend. We all encounter anxiety, but we don’t have to give in to it. There is a path out to the valley of fret, and the road map is found in the verses of Philippians 4:4-8. There are some key mile markers along the road to peace and calm.
Celebrate God’s goodness.
Ask God for help.
Leave your concerns with Him.
Meditate on good things.
Is God sovereign over your circumstances? Is He mightier than your problems? Does He have answers to your questions? According to scripture, the answer is: yes, yes, and yes! Trust Him and you can “be anxious for nothing.”
Come Thirsty - Have been sipping out of a swamp? Drinking the deluge of life? There’s stuff in that water that you were never meant to drink. Pills? They may numb the pain, but they can’t heal a heart. Money? Sure, it can buy what your body needs for survival, but it can’t supply what your soul needs. Religion? It may pacify, but it can never satisfy. The busyness of church may hide a thirst, but only Christ quenches it. Don’t you long to flush out the fear…anxiety…guilt? You can. All are welcome. You don’t have to be rich, religious, or successful; you simply need to follow the instructions on what—or better, who—to drink. Him. For the sake of those who need your love, hydrate your soul! Heed your thirst. Drink deeply and often. And out of you will flow rivers of living water.
Traveling Light - Weary travelers. You’ve seen them—everything they own crammed into their luggage. Staggering through terminals and hotel lobbies with overstuffed suitcases, trunks, duffels and backpacks. Backs ache, feet burn, eyelids droop. We’ve all seen people like that. At times, we are people like that—if not with our physical luggage, then at least with our spiritual load. We all lug loads we were never intended to carry. Fear, worry, discontent. No wonder we get so weary. We’re worn out from carrying that excess baggage. Wouldn’t it be nice to lose some of those bags? That’s the invitation of Max Lucado. With the twenty-third Psalm as our guide, let’s release some of the burdens we were never intended to bear.